Slide fastener



Aug. 29, 1967 F. GLINDMEYER SLIDE FASTENER Filed June 21, 1966 FIG. I

United States Patent SLIDE FASTENER Friedrich Glindmeyer, Am Bayerhaus, Stolberg, Rhineland, Germany Filed June 21, 1966, Ser. No. 559,253 Claims priority, application Germany, June 22, 1965, P 25,490 Claims. (Cl. 24205.1)

The present invention relates to a slide fastener and more particularly to a slide fastener stringer having a row of coupling elements, each including a coupling portion and at least one attaching leg portion, and in which the attaching leg portions of the coupling elements are sewn to an edge portion of a tape which is then folded over along a fold extending longitudinally of the stringer in the region of the coupling portions of the coupling elements so as to cover the latter and the stitches by means of which the leg portions 'are attached to the edge portion of the tape.

Such slide fastener stringers are known in the art as covered slide fastener stringers and in a slide fastener made from a pair of such stringers the coupling elements and the stitches fastening the coupling elements to the aforementioned tape portion are not visible when the slide fastener is sewn to an article with the row of coupling elements facing the interior of the article.

Known slide fasteners of this type have however the disadvantage that during the use of the slide fastener a proper covering of the row of coupling elements by the folded tape is not always maintained. In use of a slide fastener of this type the pair of stringers forming the slide fastener are, when the coupling elements thereof are engaged with each other, often subjected to opposite pulling forces applied in direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the slide fastener and during application of such forces the folds on the tapes of the two slide fastener stringers are pulled apart so that the coupling portions located beneath the tape portions of the two stringers become at least partly visible, which detrimentally affects the appearance of the slide fastener.

This uncovering of the coupling elements during application of the aforementioned transverse pulling forces to the slide fastener stringers is mainly due to the fact that the seams which connect the aforementioned edge portion of the tapes to the attaching leg portions of the coupling elements become displaced along the attaching leg portions under application of the aforementioned transverse pulling forces to the slide fastener stringers.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of covered slide fastener stringers known in the art.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a covered slide fastener stringer in which the coupling elements of the stringer remain properly covered by the tape, even if the stringers are subjected to transverse pulling forces tending to move the tape portions of the stringers relative to the engaged coupling elements thereof.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a slide fastener stringer of the aforementioned type which can be manufactured in an efiicient manner and at reasonable cost.

With these objects in view, the covered slide fastener stringer according to the present invention mainly comprises a row of coupling elements having each a coupling portion and at least one attaching leg portion in which the coupling portions of the row of coupling elements i are arranged spaced from each other in one direction and 'in which each of the attaching leg portion extends transverse to the aforementioned direction to one side of the respective coupling portions, a folded tape covering the 3,337,928 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 row of coupling elements and having a first portion abutting against the attaching leg portions of the coupling elements and a second portion folded over the first portion in direction away from the attaching leg portion to the first tape portion, and a plurality of supporting leg portions fixedly connected to at least some of the coupling elements and extending between said tape portions up to the vertex of the fold. v

This stringer construction according to the present invention has the advantage over similar stringer constructions known in the prior art that the supporting leg portions which extend up to the vertex of the fold will take up any transverse pulling forces imparted to the stringer and transmit these pulling forces onto the coupling elements so that the fold cannot be rolled back and so that the seams which connect the tape to the coupling elements are not subjected to the transverse pulling forces and will therefore not be displaced in direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the stringer.

The supporting leg portions need not necessarily be integrally formed with the other portions of the coupling elements, but it is possible to connect the supporting leg portions with the coupling elements before or during the sewing of the coupling elements onto the tape. It is however advantageous to form the supporting leg portions of the coupling elements integral with the attaching leg portions thereof. This latter procedure is especially advantageous when the coupling elements are formed from an elongated monofilar filament of shape retaining material which is bent to the form of a helix or to the form of a three-dimensional meander.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross section through a slide fastener stringer according to the present invention drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, partly pulled apart view of one embodiment of the coupling elements of the slide fastener stringer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, partly pulled apart view and showing another embodiment of the coupling elements of a slide fastener stringer similar to that of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a monofilar filament for forming the coupling elements of the slide fastener stringer according to the present invention, the filament being shown in an intermediate form from which it may be formed into the final shape as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, and more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the same, it will be seen that the slide fastener stringer 10 as shown in these two figures includes a tape 12 and a row of coupling elements 11. Each coupling element 18 at the row of coupling elements, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is of substantially S-shaped configuration and includes a pair of attaching leg portions 19 and 20 extending substantially parallel to each other and transverse to the direction at-which the coupling elements of the row of coupling elements are spaced from each other and integrally connected to each other at one end thereof by a coupling portion 15 of known configuration adapted to engage with corresponding coupling portions of a second stringer of the same type. Each of the coupling elements 18 includes further a supporting leg portion 22 integrally connected to the attaching leg portion 19 at the end thereof spaced from 3 the end to which the coupling portion is connected thereto. The supporting leg portion 22 extends substantially parallel and spaced from the attaching leg portion 19 at the side of the latter opposite to the side thereof at which the second attaching leg portion is located.

The plurality of coupling elements 18 forming the row 11 of coupling elements are integrally formed from a monofilar filament 27 of shape-retaining, preferably plastic, material, for instance nylon, which is bent into a three-dimensional meander, best shown in FIG. 2, in which the front ends of the supporting leg portions 22 are connected to each other by transverse portions, and in which the rear ends of the attaching leg portions 20 are likewise connected by transverse portions as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

The slide fastener stringer as shown in FIG. 1 includes further, as mentioned before, a tape 12 having a first portion 17 sandwiched between the supporting leg portions 22 and the upper attaching leg portions 19 of the row of coupling elements and this tape is folded as at 13 to extend with a second tape portion 16 of a width greater than that of the first portion 17 over the supporting leg portion 22. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the supporting leg portion 22 extends substantially up to the vertex 14 of the fold 13 of the tape 12.

A flattened cord 21 is preferably sandwiched between the attaching leg portions 19 and 20 and substantially filling the space therebetween, as clearly shown in FIG. 1 and the cord 21 extends longitudinally through all of the coupling elements 18 of the stringer. The tape portion 17 is'att-ached to the coupling elements 18 by means of two rows of stitches 23 and 24 which extend about the supporting leg portion 22 and the lower one of the attaching leg portions 20 of the coupling elements and between the spaces of successive coupling elements through the tape portion 17 and the cord 21.

The filament 27 may be bent to the three-dimensional meander as shown in FIG. 2 to form the coupling elements 18 of the row of coupling elements 11, for instance in the following manner:

The filament 27 is first formed into a plane meander 28 as shown in FIG. 4. Before bending the filament 27 to the plane meander 28 as shown in FIG. 4, the filament is formed with spaced enlargements 15 and 29 arranged in such a manner that the enlargements or deformations 15 and 29 will subdivide each leg portion 38 of the plane meander 28, located between opposite transverse connecting portions 30 and 31, into three parts respectively designated 19, 20 and to facilitate bending of the leg portions 38 at the location of the deformations whereby the deformations 15 are formed in such a manner to form the desired coupling portions 15 of the coupling elements. Each of the leg portions 38 of the plane meander 28 serves to form one coupling element 18 of the row of coupling elements 11.

The plane meander 28 as shown in FIG. 4 is then during a further production step formed in the three dimensional meander as shown in FIG. 2 by bending the portions 20 of each leg portion 38 through 180 in one direction out of the plane of the meander 28, whereby the bend is formed in the region of the coupling portions 15 and by subsequently thereto bending the portions 22 through 180 in the opposite direction out of the plane of the meander whereby the deformation 29 serves to facilitate the bend at the junction between the portions 19 and 22.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a threedimensional meander formed from a filament or wire of plastic material to obtain a row of coupling elements 25. Similar as in FIG. 2, the first coupling element 26 of the row of coupling elements is shown spaced from the remainder of the coupling elements in order to more clearly illustrate the bending of the filament which forms the row of coupling elements 25.

22. The deformations 29 and 15 serve The manufacture of the row of coupling elements as shown in FIG. 3 may be carried out in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 2. However, in order to form the filament into the three dimensional meander as shown in FIG. 3, the plane meander to be formed first has to have, as will be obvious from the finished row of coupling elements 25, besides the deformation 15, which serves for forming the coupling portions of the row of coupling elements 25, two additional deformations 32 and 33. During the final production steps, the portion of the filament which forms the attaching leg portion 34, which in the finished stringer will abut against a portion 17 of the tape as shown in FIG. 1 is bent through an angle of 180 in one direction out of the plane of the plane meander so that the attaching leg portion 34 will be parallel and spaced from the other attaching leg portion 35 as shown in FIG. 3. The supporting leg portion 36 of each coupling element of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is formed in such a manner that the filament forming the coupling elements is bent at each 'of the deformed portions 32 and 33 thereof, which are arranged to facilitate bending of the filament at these portions, through an angle of so that the supporting leg portion 36 is connected with the lower attaching leg portion 35 by means of a connecting portion 37 located between the deformed places 32 and 33. Each of the coupling elements 26 of the row 25 of coupling elements has in cross substantially the form of a numeral 6.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in another type of slide fasteners differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a covered slide fastener stringer, it is not intended to be lirnted to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

For instance it is not necessary that a supporting leg portion is coordinated with each coupling element, but it is also sufiieient that a supporting leg portion is coordinated with a plurality of coupling elements. Likewise, the filament of plastic material forming the row of coupling elements may be bent not only in the form of a three-dimensional meander as shown in FIGS. 2 or 3 but also at least over part of the length of the stringer in the form of a helix.

Furthermore, the neumber of rows of stitches and the manner in which these stitches are correlated with the elements of the slide fastener may be different from the manner as shown in FIG. 1. For instance it would be possible to arrange the row of stitches in such a manner that the seams will encompass only the leg portions 20 and 22 in which case the stitches would pass only through the tape portions 17. Furthermore, it is also possible to omit the cord 21 between the leg portions 19 and 20 and to arrange these two leg portions closely adjacent to each other or to provide one of the leg portions 19 or 20 with a bent portion abutting against the other leg portion. Finally, it is also possible to form each of the coupling elements without the lower attaching leg portion 20 so that each of the coupling elements would include only one attaching leg portion with a coupling portion affixed thereto at one end and a supporting leg portion fixed thereto on the other end thereof and extending spaced from and parallel to the attaching leg portion.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A covered slide fastener stringer, comprising, in combination, a row of coupling elements having each a coupling portion and at least one attaching leg portion, said coupling portion of said row of coupling elements being arranged spaced from each other in direction of said row and each of said attaching leg portion extending transverse to said direction to one side of said coupling portion; a folded tape covering said row of coupling elements and having a first portion abutting against said attaching leg portion of said coupling elements and a second portion folded over the first portion in direction away from said attaching leg portion of said coupling elements along a fold extending in said one direction in the region of said attaching portions of said coupling elements; thread means connecting said attaching leg portions to said first tape portion; and a plurality of supporting leg portions connected to at least some of said coupling elements and extending between said tape portions up to the vertex of said fold.

2. A covered slide fastener as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supporting leg portions are integrally formed with said attaching leg portions.

3. A- covered slide fastener stringer as set forth in claim 2, wherein one supporting leg portion is provided for each attaching leg portion.

4. A covered slide fastener stringer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said supporting and attaching leg portions of all of said coupling elements are integrally formed from a monofilar filament of shape-retaining material.

5. A covered slide fastener stringer as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said coupling elements includes a second attaching leg portion extending spaced from and substantially parallel to said first mentioned attaching leg portion and being integrally connected thereto by the coupling portion of the respective element.

6. A covered slide fastener stringer as set forth in claim 5, wherein the supporting leg portion of each coupling element is integrally connected to said first attaching leg portion at the end thereof opposite the end to which said coupling portion is connected.

7. A covered slide fastener stringer as set forth in claim 5, wherein said supporting leg portion of each coupling element is integrally connected to said second attaching leg portion at the end thereof opposite to the end to which said coupling portion is connected.

8. A covered slide fastener stringer as set forth in claim 5, and including cord means located between said first and said second attaching leg portions.

9. A covered slide fastener stringer as set forth in claim 8, wherein said thread means extend about said first and said second attaching leg portions and through said first tape portion and said cord means.

10. A covered slide fastener stringer as set forth in claim 5, wherein said filament forming said first and said second attaching leg portions, said coupling portion and said supporting leg portions is in the form of a threedimensional meander.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COVERED SLIDE FASTENER STRINGER, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A ROW OF COUPLING ELEMENTS HAVING EACH A COUPLING PORTION AND AT LEAST ONE ATTACHING LEG PORTION, SAID COUPLING PORTION OF SAID ROW OF COUPLING ELEMENTS BEING ARRANGED SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN DIRECTION OF SAID ROW AND EACH OF SAID ATTACHING LEG PORTION EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO SAID DIRECTION TO ONE SIDE OF SAID COUPLING PORTION; A FOLDED TAPE COVERING SAID ROW OF COUPLING ELEMENTS AND HAVING A FIRST PORTION ABUTTING AGAINST SAID ATTACHING LEG PORTION OF SAID COUPLING ELEMENTS AND A SECOND PORTION FOLDED OVER THE FIRST PORTION IN DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID ATTACHING LEG PORTION OF SAID COUPLING ELEMENTS ALONG A FOLD EXTENDING IN SAID ONE DIRECTION IN THE REGION OF SAID ATTACHING PORTIONS OF SAID COUPLING ELEMENTS; THREAD MEANS CONNECTING SAID ATTACHING LEG PORTIONS TO SAID FIRST TAPE PORTION; AND A PLURALITY OF SUPPORTING LEG PORTIONS CONNECTED TO AT LEAST SOME OF SAID COUPLING ELEMENTS AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TAPE PORTIONS UP TO THE VERTEX OF SAID FOLD. 